Libya hands over last stockpile of chemical weapon ingredients

Libya’s remaining stockpile of potential chemical weapons has been successfully transported abroad in an operation aimed at keeping them safe from militants, according to a watchdog.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said the stockpile – hundreds of tonnes of industrial chemicals – had been removed for destruction abroad with the help of several countries.

Libya’s UN-brokered national unity government in July made a formal request for international assistance to have the chemicals removed.

Libya had planned to destroy the chemicals itself but fighting with Islamic State and political instability had raised fears the stockpile would be taken by insurgents. The unity government asked for the help of the OPCW, which won the Nobel Peace prize for ridding Syria of its declared chemical weapons. Continue reading.